Cultural resources in the Mid-Atlantic region
Integrating cultural and natural resource conservation is critical for successful large landscape conservation. We are assessing the spatial distribution and values of cultural resource using three approaches: 1) compiling existing databases to develop multi-layer cultural resource maps; 2) ethnographic work and surveys with cultural resource experts; and 3) leveraging crowd-sourced landscape values from Twitter data. Check out a publication from this work.
TREKS: Trails, routemaking, ecological knowledge and stewardship study
By engaging with and actively shaping landscapes, trailbuilding communities come to know landscapes as storied social spaces. This study asks how trails come into being, both physically and as imagined landscapes by their creators, managers, and users. Research is situated ethnographically both virtually and in the Mid-Atlantic and Sierra Nevada regions, where existing long distance trails (the AT and PCT) and proposed trail management plans shape local conservation and recreation landscapes. Visit the OSF page for updates.
Select projects
Participatory mushroom management
Wild mushroom harvesters in Yunnan use a variety of techniques to enhance mushroom production and reduce insect predation. Together with local harvesters and colleagues at ICRAF, we conducted a participatory research experiment investigating how shiro-level management techniques influence matsutake production and quality. Check out our recent publication.
Cash crops and NTFPs in the Greater Mekong Subregion
With colleagues at The World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), we investigated the impact of cash crop adoption on non-timber forest product use and livelihood strategies. See published results.
The science and culture of landscape conservation
Yi ethnomycology audio archive
In collaboration with local mushroom harvesters from Chuxiong Prefecture, we created a digital archive of Yi ethnomycological knowledge. This digital archive includes photos and audio recordings of Yi language species names. Check out the archive and publication.
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